Union Chief: Starmer’s Mistakes Threaten Labour’s Future

The Labour movement is “on the line” because of mistakes made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to a senior trade union leader, as political tensions continued to surface during his absence from Westminster.

Union Chief

While Mr Starmer is in China on a diplomatic visit, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy took questions in the Commons, facing sustained criticism from opposition MPs over the government’s economic record and approach to foreign policy.

The warning from the union movement comes at a sensitive moment for Labour, with concerns being raised about living standards, business pressures, and the party’s direction under its current leadership.

Badenoch attacks Tory defectors

Earlier, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used a speech to criticise members of her party who have defected to Reform UK, accusing them of political immaturity.

She likened their actions to children “having a tantrum” and said those leaving the party were motivated by personal disappointment rather than principle.

“I was elected to renew and rebuild,” she said, adding that Conservatives who disagreed with her leadership should “get out of the way”.

Ms Badenoch dismissed defectors as individuals upset about losing leadership contests or failing to secure senior positions, saying they were offering no credible plan to govern the country.

Focus on small businesses at PMQs

At Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith challenged Mr Lammy over Labour’s support for small businesses.

The exchanges followed the government’s announcement of a temporary 15 percent discount on business rates for pubs and music venues in England from April.

Mr Griffith described the move as a U turn on measures announced in November’s Budget and claimed that the vast majority of retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses would see no benefit.

Mr Lammy rejected the criticism, pointing to a £4bn support package and saying more than 7,000 pubs had closed under Conservative governments. He said Labour was committed to supporting hospitality and small firms.

Mr Griffith responded that the measures were “too little, too late”, accusing the government of offering short term fixes while high streets continued to struggle.

Mr Lammy hit back by highlighting Labour’s support for the minimum wage and other cost of living measures, while also making repeated references to Conservative MPs defecting to Reform UK.

China and foreign policy questions

Foreign policy also featured heavily. Deputy Liberal Democrat leader Daisy Cooper questioned the government on China’s actions, including alleged espionage and repression.

She asked what consequences Beijing would face if such behaviour continued, particularly while a British citizen remains imprisoned in Hong Kong.

Mr Lammy did not set out specific penalties but said disengaging from China would be a “dereliction of duty” and insisted the government was pursuing a consistent and strategic approach, noting that other world leaders were also visiting Beijing.

Ms Cooper accused the government of failing to outline any meaningful consequences for China’s actions.

Unemployment claim challenged

During the session, Mr Griffith claimed that unemployment always rises under Labour governments.

That assertion has been disputed. Historical data shows that unemployment fell during Labour’s first brief period in office in 1924, although it did rise under subsequent Labour administrations.

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Wages, Iran, and defence spending

Other MPs raised concerns about household finances, with Conservative former minister Wendy Morton citing figures suggesting many families feel worse off.

Mr Lammy replied that real wages have risen in almost every month since Labour took office.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney asked whether the government would proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation following a crackdown on protests.

Mr Lammy condemned Iran’s actions and said sanctions were being used to counter state threats, but repeated that governments do not comment on potential proscription decisions.

On defence, Ms Cooper urged the government to increase spending urgently in light of global instability, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and wider security challenges. Mr Lammy responded by pointing to defence cuts made during the Conservative Liberal Democrat coalition years.

Political pressure builds

As the session drew to a close, exchanges between Mr Lammy and Mr Griffith became increasingly heated, with repeated references to Conservative defections and internal party divisions.

Mr Lammy insisted Labour was making a tangible difference through reforms aimed at reducing household costs, while opposition MPs continued to question whether the government’s economic measures were sufficient.

With Mr Starmer overseas, the exchanges highlighted the growing political pressure on Labour at home, as well as the challenges of maintaining party unity and public confidence in a volatile political climate.